WCI Communities has begun construction of the first two Carriage home models in the Riverside neighborhood at Tidewater Preserve, WCI’s premier Bradenton boating community located along a two-mile stretch of the Manatee River.

Offering three bedrooms and two baths, both models include an open great room, breakfast nook, kitchen and formal dining area.

The first-floor Loxahatchee offers 1,710 square feet of living space while the second-floor Potomac has 2,376 square feet. The Potomac includes a private retreat and aligns walk-in closets at its first-floor entry and second-floor hallway to give homebuyers the option of installing an elevator.

Outdoor living is emphasized, with spacious screened lanais and loggias with sliding glass doors that showcase the views. Each model has a laundry room with Whirlpool washer and dryer, a two-car garage and private entry. Kitchens feature granite countertops, large freestanding island breakfast bars, flat-panel cabinetry, walk-in pantry closets and a Whirlpool appliance package.

The furnished model homes are expected to open for viewing in December.

The Carriage homes, introduced in July, are designed for an intimate, carefree lifestyle with only four homes in each two-story building and landscape maintenance provided by the homeowner’s association.

Homes in Riverside have been designed with luxury finishes, including coffered ceilings and 18-by-18-inch ceramic tile flooring in select rooms, solid surface windowsills and decorative baseboards. Homebuyers can select lower counter heights for kitchen islands and have the opportunity to personalize their home at WCI’s Design Studio, located in Venetian Golf & River Club in nearby Venice. The studio provides a comprehensive selection of cabinetry, countertops, bath and kitchen fixtures, and tile and flooring.

Tidewater Preserve offers 14 single-family Grand Villa, Classic and Riverfront home designs with two to four bedrooms and 1,756 to 3,845 square feet of living space. Single-family homes start from the mid-$200,000s.
Four model homes are currently open for viewing. WCI also is offering quick-delivery homes at Tidewater Preserve for immediate to near-immediate move in.

Amenities at Tidewater Preserve, a 373-acre gated master-planned community, include the 5,012-square-foot Lodge which earned a 2013 Aurora Award for Best Recreational Facility from the 12-state Southeast Building Conference. The Lodge, the social and recreational hub of the Tidewater Preserve lifestyle, features a community room and catering kitchen for resident activities and special events, as well as a fitness center with men’s and women’s showers. Outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool, playground, multiple al fresco gathering areas, and a large covered veranda and trellised patio overlooking the Manatee River.

Tidewater Preserve also offers canoeing and kayaking facilities, boat slips and a three-court tennis complex at the Port & Court Club. The community’s River Walk provides walking, hiking and jogging opportunities along with nature trails and boardwalks skirting the river and several conservation areas.

Tidewater Preserve is only 15 miles from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, and the nearby I-75 corridor provides easy access to numerous arts and entertainment venues in Sarasota, as well as the professional sporting events and international shopping in nearby Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

The Tidewater Preserve Welcome Center is located at 4700 Tidewater Preserve Blvd. and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. From I-75, take exit 220, travel two miles west on SR 64, and turn right at 48th Street Court.

For more information about Tidewater Preserve, call 941-465-4001 or visit www.TidewaterPreserve.com.